Knowing what we now know of Nick Saban’s meticulous and painstaking process of winning, it’s hard to imagine what must have been going through his head in 2007 when Alabama lost—at home—to Louisiana-Monroe.

Since that disastrous moment—and since Saban compared the loss to Pearl Harbor (remember that??)—Alabama has won 62 of 70 games and three of the last four BCS national championships.

So, yeah, he’s the best coach in the best conference in college football. But that doesn’t mean he’s far and away ahead of the pack, which got significantly stronger with the additions of Bret Bielema, Butch Jones and Mark Stoops.

1. Nick Saban, Alabama: It’s not a stretch to say Alabama had the best team in college football the last five years. In 2008, the unbeaten Tide lost to Florida in the SEC Championship after giving up three third down touchdown passes (and would’ve played Oklahoma in BCS NCG); in 2010, Alabama had the most talented team in the nation—a blown season that, to this day, eats away at Saban and motivates future teams.

2. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina: Because South Carolina has yet to break through and win the SEC, we sometimes forget what Spurrier walked into at Columbia. The program was a joke, and was last seen fighting on the field with rival Clemson. When Spurrier does finally break through—make no mistake, he will (and it might be this season) —it will be the greatest turnaround for a program in SEC history.

3. Les Miles, LSU: Here’s the thing about Miles: The criticism of his wacky game day acumen (his players feed of it) is way off base. Criticism for how he handled the offense (and the quarterback position, specifically) the last two years is right on target. He let loyalty to his staff override the need for an experienced teacher and play caller at the offensive coordinator spot—and it cost him at least one (maybe two) national titles.

4. Mark Richt, Georgia: A measly tipped ball. That’s how close Georgia was to beating Alabama in last year’s SEC Championship Game and playing Notre Dame for the national title (I think we all know what would’ve happened there). For the third time in his coaching career (2002, 2007, 2012), Richt had a team that was playing as well or better than anyone in the nation, and had no national title to show for it.

5. Bret Bielema, Arkansas: The first newcomer, and he’s already in the top five. How you ask? Three straight Rose Bowls at Wisconsin, that’s how. His last four Wisconsin teams won 40 games playing like an SEC team (see: Alabama, LSU, Florida): run the ball, throw play action, play defense.

6. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M: Before the season began, Sumlin said his wide-open offense would work in the league known for killer defenses. Then he went out and won 11 games by scoring big on just about everyone. One overlooked factor: The Aggies defense was terrific; and will be nearly completely rebuilt this fall.

7. Will Muschamp, Florida: The turnaround in Year 2 without elite skill in the passing game was remarkable. Then came the uninspired dud against Louisville in the Sugar Bowl. That’s coaching. Period. Some hope for Gator fans: Muschamp’s run at Florida is trending exactly like Saban’s at Alabama: win seven games in Year 1, win big in Year 2 and blow a useless bowl game (Tide lost to Utah in Sugar Bowl). Year 3, Saban won it all.

8. James Franklin, Vanderbilt: The more he talks, the more you believe. The more Vanderbilt plays, the more impressive Franklin’s job looks. Vandy could have—and probably should have—beaten South Carolina in last year’s season opener, and that would’ve meant 10 wins. That’s unreal at a school that, for decades, has been the SEC tomato can.

9. Butch Jones, Tennessee: After all the pie in the sky Jon Gruden talk, Tennessee got what it needed after all: a young, proven winner who can grow with the program. Jones already has proven he can recruit. Given time, he’ll prove he can put an elite team on the field.

10. Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss: The only problem with Freeze’s stunning recruiting coup in February is it overshadows what last year’s team did on the field: broke a 16-game SEC losing streak, and was a handful of plays from beating Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt (and winning 10 games).

11. Gary Pinkel, Missouri: Year 1 in the SEC was a massive reality check for Pinkel and Missouri. It wasn’t so much the speed and athletes as it was physicality. Pinkel compounded the problems by mismanaging the quarterback position and leaving star James Franklin with little confidence.

12, Gus Malzahn, Auburn: This much is given: Gus knows offense. He showed it as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, and showed it in one season as head coach at Arkansas State. Offense won’t be enough to get by in the West Division.

13. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State: What do we really know about Mullen? His teams beat nonconference cupcakes they should, and get enough SEC wins to tease you. The reality is this: Mullen’s biggest win was a victory at Florida in 2010, when Urban Meyer’s team was falling apart.

14. Mark Stoops, Kentucky: He completely changed the way Florida State played defense the last few years, and earned the job. But this job is bigger and harder than what his brothers (Bob at Oklahoma; Mike at Arizona) dealt with combined.